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Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
AI Scalf, Department ofCo=unity Development (DCD) Directofcr
Stacie Hoskins, DCD Planning Manager ~ .
Michelle McConnell, Associate Planner ~
Donna Frostholm, Associate Planner ~
FROM:
DATE:
August 22, 20 II
SUBJECT:
Public Input for Voluntary Stewardship Plan Decision- Opt In/Opt Out and Watershed
Selection
ATTACHED: I) August 2, 2011 DCD Memo to Staff; and 2) Legal Notice for August 24 publication in
The Leader.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
ESHB 1886, which pertains to a voluntary stewardship program (VSP) for protecting agriculturailands and
critical areas, went into effect on July 22, 2011. Jefferson County must determine whether to opt in or opt
out based on requirements specified in ESHB 1886. Should the County choose to opt in, the County must
determine which watersheds are to be included in the VSP and must select a priority watershed. As part this
process, the Board of County Co=issioners has approved a decision making process that includes
soliciting public input and conferring with key stakeholder representatives on the topic. Therefore, a public
notice is being provided to comply with ESHB 1886 Section 4 requirements for public participation in the
decisions.
ANALYSIS/STRATEGIC GOALSIPROS and CONS:
The County must make a decision whether to opt in or opt out within six months of the effective date for
ESHB 1886, or by January 22,2012. To fulfill the legislatively mandated requirements, Jefferson County
needs to consider public input. Should Jefferson County decide to opt in, Section 4 of the new legislation
requires that public noticing must be followed. Providing a public notice at this time provides the most cost-
effective and efficient means of addressing this requirement.
During the August 1, 2011 meeting, the Board agreed to a decision making process as outlined in the
attached August 2,2011 staff memo. This process includes publication of an informational document/white
paper and a 30-day public co=ent period with public hearing to gather citizen input.
FISCAL IMPACT/COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS:
This work will be completed by funds provided to Jefferson County Department of Co=unity
Development froin the General Fund in support of long-range planning projects. Since Jefferson County
must address the requirements ofESHB 1886, some of the money from the General Fund for use in DCD
long-range planning will be used for this emerging issue.
Consent Agenda
RECOMMENDATION:
Staffrecomrnends that the BoCC:
1. Approve the public notice to open a public comment period from 8/24/11 to 9/23/11; and
2. Hold a public hearing on September 19, 2011
to receive comments from the general public that pertain to the VSP opt in/opt out and watershed selection
decision.
REVIEWED BY:
3' /1';/1;
or
Date
TO:
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
LEGAL NOTICE
Please publish one (1) time:
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 in 7-point font
BILL:
Jefferson County Department of Community Development
` 621 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend WA 98368
Attn: Donna Frostholm, Associate Planner
Tel: 360-379-4450 Account # 17385
DATE:
Monday, August 22, 2011
NOTICE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON
PARTICIPATION IN VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (VSP)
FOR PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND CRITICAL AREAS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
(BoCC) will hold a public hearing on Participation in the Voluntary Stewardship Program
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm
(VSP) at the Jefferson County Superior
Court Room, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend, Washington. The BoCC is seeking
public input in favor or opposition to County participation the State of Washington’s
VSP, including (1) whether to opt in or opt out of the VSP, (2) which watershed(s) to
include if the County opts into the state program, and (3) which watershed or sub basin
should be selected as a primary watershed if the County opts into the VSP.
Written comments will be accepted by the Board of County Commissioners from August
24, 2011 until 4:30 p.m. on September 23, 2011. Written comments should be sent to:
BoCC - VSP Comments, PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368; or to
JeffBoCC@co.jefferson.wa.us.
Availability of Documents:
Information about ESHB 1886 and the VSP can be
reviewed at Department of Community Development, 621 Sheridan Street, Port
Townsend or electronically at the Department of Community Development VSP
webpage
(http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/VoluntaryStewardshipProgram.htm).
For further information, please contact Department of Community Development (DCD),
at (360) 379-4450 or dfrostholm@co.jefferson.wa.us.
This legal notice was approved by the BoCC on:
August 22, 2011,
________________________________
John Austin, Chair